Brodies LLP is a pre-eminent firm in the Scottish corporate tax market, fielding a deep bench of tax specialists across a broad range of areas including funds, real estate transactions, and other bespoke tax arrangements such as employee share incentives. The team is led from Edinburgh by Isobel D’Inverno, she is vastly experienced in property taxation and regularly advises real estate clients on a wide spectrum of transactions including inward investment structures, student accommodation and corporate real estate projects. Alan Barr has an impressive reputation in relation to personal and business tax issues, while Karen Davidson is a specialist in employment-related tax issues.

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Expert knowledge and resources to provide answers to complex questions.’
‘Karen Davidson displays the requisite technical expertise as well as a strong sense of commercial awareness.’
‘Great team with lots of experience and a commercial outlook.’
‘Pragmatic and commercially focused advice, targeted at maximising value and managing risk.’
‘Karen Davidson draws on her broad experience from all industries to tailor her advice to a specific business context or deal.’
‘Brodies’ work is of an extremely high standard. Obviously, they advise on the legal aspects of any particular matter, but they are also extremely commercial in their approach and take time to understand a business, their challenges and think of ways to overcome them (from a legal and tax perspective).’
‘With Brodies breadth of services, they are able to provide a comprehensive service to a company covering contract, employment and company law.’
‘Karen Davidson is a key point of contact for all taxation matters, covering corporation tax and employee share plans. Karen always provides an excellent service.’

Key clients

Accel-KKR
TPG Europe LLP
BAE Pension Trustees
Northcare Group
Gresham House
Custodian REIT
Seafood Connection
RockRose Energy
Virgin Hotels
Wheatley Group

Work highlights

Acting for the shareholders of Balhousie Holdings Limited on the tax aspects of its sale to AcalisCare.
Advised Custodian REIT plc on the tax aspects of the hive up of the business and assets of Drum Income Plus REIT plc (DRIP REIT).
Advising Gresham House on the UK and cross-border tax aspects of the formation of an Irish Forestry Fund.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Alan Barr

Hall of fameBrodies LLP

Alan is Head of Personal Tax Planning, based in Edinburgh, and one of Scotland's best-known tax and private client practitioners. As well as estate planning and all that comes from that, he covers the full range of taxes. He has expertise in capital taxes and property tax issues including land and buildings transaction tax. He has contributed to authoritative publications in relation to wills, tax planning and trusts; and is a co-author of the leading book 'Drafting Wills in Scotland'. Alan brings a broad depth of legal knowledge and experience to transactions and planning for a wide range of clients, from very wealthy individuals to those with more modest needs – including the interface between their personal and business interests. Hugely respected within the legal and wealth planning professions, Alan is the ’go-to‘ lawyer for other professionals in this field where difficult issues require to be tackled.

Isobel d’Inverno

Hall of fameBrodies LLP

Isobel advises on the corporate tax aspects of company acquisitions, disposals and reconstructions and real estate taxation, including student accommodation and private rented sector developments and structuring inward investment in Scottish real estate by offshore investors and funds. Isobel's experience includes Brexit related VAT and customs duty issues, funds taxation, real estate taxes (LBTT, SDLT and LTT) as well as property VAT, capital allowances and the Construction Industry Scheme. Isobel also advises a range of charities on tax issues including setting up trading subsidiaries, Gift aid donations by trading subsidiaries to parent charities, charitable VAT exemptions and VAT implications of business and non-business activities. She works closely with the Scottish Government and Revenue Scotland in relation to the ongoing development of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and the 4% Additional Dwelling Supplement. Isobel is a member of the Devolved Taxes Legislative Working Group, set up by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament to consider different ways of making changes to the devolved taxes which issued its interim report on 6 February 2020.

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Karen Davidson

Brodies LLP

With more than 20 years’ experience of advising on the tax aspects and structuring of corporate mergers and acquisitions, investments, joint venture arrangements and reorganisations, Karen has led the tax advice on a number of large high profile corporate transactions in Scotland. She also has deep expertise on the design, implementation and transaction implications of employee share incentive arrangements in both the private and listed companies and advises on employment tax issues such as IR35. Karen also advises provides structuring advice in relation to real estate transactions.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Isobel D'Inverno

Other key lawyers

Alan Barr, Karen Davidson

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